IMDb > Melvin and Howard (1980)
Melvin and Howard
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Melvin and Howard (1980) More at IMDbPro »

Videos (see all 2 NEW)
Melvin and Howard (1980) -- The story of hard-luck Melvin Dummar, who claimed to have received a will naming him an heir to the fortune of Howard Hughes.
Melvin and Howard (1980) -- MyMovieScripts.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.0/10   1,873 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?

Up 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

Jonathan Demme

Writer:

Bo Goldman (written by)

Contact:

View company contact information for Melvin and Howard on IMDbPro.

Release Date:

19 September 1980 (USA) more

Genre:

Comedy | Drama more

Tagline:

A true story? more

Plot:

The story of hard-luck Melvin Dummar, who claimed to have received a will naming him an heir to the fortune of Howard Hughes. full summary | add synopsis

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 14 wins & 4 nominations more

NewsDesk:
(2 articles)

Producer Ned Tanen Dead At 77
 (From Studio Briefing - Film News. 6 January 2009, 1:31 AM, PST)

Jason Robards Dies
 (From WENN. 28 December 2000)

User Comments:

Quirky Film Deserves A Look more (26 total)


Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Jason Robards ... Howard Hughes

Paul Le Mat ... Melvin Dummar
Elizabeth Cheshire ... Darcy Dummar

Mary Steenburgen ... Lynda Dummar
Chip Taylor ... Clark Taylor
Melvin E. Dummar ... Bus Depot Counterman

Michael J. Pollard ... Little Red
Denise Galik ... Lucy
Gene Borkan ... Go-Go Club Owner #1
Lesley Margret Burton ... Go-Go Dancer
Wendy Lee Couch ... Go-Go Dancer
Marguerite Baierski ... Go-Go Dancer
Janice King ... Go-Go Dancer
Deborah Ann Klein ... Go-Go Dancer
Theodora Thomas ... Go-Go Dancer
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1 more

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Gabbs, Nevada, USA more


Fun Stuff

Trivia:

At the beginning of the film, Melvin Dummar sings a song that he has penned, "Santa's Souped Up Sleigh." He tells Howard Hughes that he sent the words - along with a sum of money - to the Hollywood Music Company, an outfit that puts its customers' song lyrics to music for a fee. Although Melvin doesn't realize it, the tune that the company used is not an original one: they paired his lyrics with the melody of "Wabash Cannonball." more

Goofs:

Continuity: At the end of the truck ride to Vegas, Hughes doesn't know how to open the passenger door from the inside, but in Dummar's flashback at the end of the movie (when Hughes gets to drive the truck), Hughes has no trouble opening the door. more

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Night Court: Melvin and Harold (#7.18)" (1990) more

Soundtrack:

Love Can't Hold a Ramblin' Man more


FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
12 out of 14 people found the following comment useful.
Quirky Film Deserves A Look, 18 April 2006
8/10
Author: ccthemovieman-1 from Lockport, NY, United States

Here's a strange tale of a couple and their on-and-off again marriage and the stupid things they do.....and the eventual flak over money billionaire Howard Hughes supposedly left the man.

Paul LaMat plays the husband and supposed beneficiary. He's just fun to watch, a likable, never-loses-his-cool kind of guy. Mary Steenburgen plays his wife and kind of surprised me by how much skin she showed, not the usual scenario with her. Both of them are somewhat low-lifes. Heck, even Hughes (Jason Robards) is pictured to look kind of scummy character in here. Then again, his last years on this earth were a bit strange!

It's a fictional story but those of us who remember, there WAS a lot of flak over the will of Howard Hughes. Despite this being on the grungy side (typical for movies between 1970-1981) this is still an appealing film in a sweet kind of way.

One thing for sure: it's different. Well worth a look.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (26 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Melvin and Howard (1980)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
P.T. Anderson sites this movie as influencing Hard Eight lvis74
Was Melvin telling the truth? joanbrazas
Gloria Graham olblueeyes40
Bate Brothers scene??! enicolau1
This story is in the news djhunnicut
Why R? And3ww
more

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